Avondale kindergarteners recently came together for a day of fall fun at Blake’s Cider Mill & Orchards!
While the trip offered plenty of opportunities to enjoy the season, it also served as an engaging, hands-on learning experience through Avondale’s K–12 Career Development program.
Coordinated by the district’s Career Development Team, the annual trip introduces students to the many careers involved in growing, producing, and delivering the apples and products we enjoy every day. Before and after the trip, classroom discussions help students explore the jobs connected to the experience. While many young students are familiar with careers such as teachers, nurses, and police officers, Avondale’s Career Development program encourages them to think beyond the familiar and discover the wide range of career pathways that make our communities work.
At Blake’s, students learned about the many people and skills involved in bringing apples from the orchard to the store. From farmers who grow the apples and workers who harvest them to those who process and package the products, make apple juice, transport goods, and market and sell products to customers, students began to see just how many different careers can be connected to something as simple as an apple!
The trip also provides a wonderful opportunity for kindergarteners from across the district to connect, meet new friends, and reunite with classmates from Avondale’s preschool program. These early connections help strengthen the sense of community that continues as students progress through elementary school and eventually reunite as middle schoolers.
As students grow with Avondale, they will continue exploring hundreds of career pathways through the district’s state- and nationally recognized Career Development program, helping them discover their interests, recognize their strengths, and imagine what their futures might hold! A special thank-you to our kindergarten teachers, staff, volunteers, and Career Development Coordinator Deanna Johnson for organizing such a fun and meaningful learning experience for our future Yellow Jackets!
